Able locals should head central institutes in M’laya: Ampareen

SHILLONG, Nov 26: Amid the turmoil in the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) surrounding Vice Chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla, Cabinet Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh on Tuesday advocated that qualified local candidates should be allowed to occupy top positions in the central institutes located in the state.
“It would be in the fitness of things to allow locals, particularly who are qualified, to assume positions that are best suited for the people of our state, as Central government set up these institutions in various states not to benefit themselves but to benefit the beneficially states,” Lyngdoh said.
Asking the Centre to take cognisance of the events at NEHU, she hoped that the committee probing the allegations will submit its report with strong recommendations to address the grievances of the students.
She said the Centre should have close consultations with the state government on matters of appointments, especially of the VC of central universities.
The minister added that such consultations will help avoid frictions, such as the one being witnessed at NEHU.
Stating that the Centre must understand the people of Meghalaya are unique in many ways, Lyngdoh said she will not indulge in gossips that right wing groups are behind the mess in the university.
“But it is also a fact that the appointments being made are not as per procedure,” she said, emphasising that the Centre must correct the alleged anomalies.
Lyngdoh said the state government is closely monitoring the situation and that, she will support the students who are demanding the VC’s removal.
“Don’t irk the student community. Don’t isolate them when important decisions are taken. Otherwise, you will have this kind of a problem. And who suffers the most? It is the students,” she said.